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Lot Essay
Professor Thomas Engel (b. 1927 in Germany, d. 2015 in Switzerland), inventor, author and watch aficionado, collector and maker, was an international coryphée in the field of researching polymers. He held around 120 patents in organic chemistry and was awarded numerous honours and prices in this field, including the 1972 "Diesel Prize" which he jointly won with Dr. Wernher von Braun, one of the most important rocket developers and specialist of space exploration.
Professor Engel was not only a famous watch collector but also a passionate "self-made" maker of technically outstanding timepieces. From the moment he first held a pocket watch in his hands, incidentally a Breguet, he knew he had found a passion that would take his life in another direction. Within the horological community, he is acknowledged for his understanding of the life and works of Abraham Louis Breguet, on whom he also published a biography.
His interest spanned beyond the average collector, applying his knowledge and skills to watchmaking, producing watches made in the style and technique of Breguet. Of outstanding quality and finesse, these so-called "Engel Breguets", such as the present example, have become highly sought-after collector's pieces.
Professor Engel was not only a famous watch collector but also a passionate "self-made" maker of technically outstanding timepieces. From the moment he first held a pocket watch in his hands, incidentally a Breguet, he knew he had found a passion that would take his life in another direction. Within the horological community, he is acknowledged for his understanding of the life and works of Abraham Louis Breguet, on whom he also published a biography.
His interest spanned beyond the average collector, applying his knowledge and skills to watchmaking, producing watches made in the style and technique of Breguet. Of outstanding quality and finesse, these so-called "Engel Breguets", such as the present example, have become highly sought-after collector's pieces.